Welcome to the Quartus II Software

The Quartus II development software provides a complete design environment
for system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design. Regardless of whether
you use a personal computer or a Linux workstation, the Quartus II software
ensures easy design entry, fast processing, and straightforward device
programming. The following sections describe the general capabilities
and design flows of the Quartus II software.

The Quartus II software offers a rich graphical user interface complemented
with an illustrated, easy-to-use online Help system. The complete
Quartus II system comprises an integrated design environment that
includes every step from design entry to device programming.

You can easily combine different types of design files in a hierarchical
project, choosing the design entry format that works best for each
functional block. You can use the Quartus II Block Editor to create
block diagrams that describe your design at a high-level, then use
additional block diagrams, schematics, AHDL Text Design Files (.tdf), VHDL Design Files
(.vhd), and Verilog
HDL Design Files (.v)
to create the lower-level design components. Architecture-independent
design entry gives you the freedom to create logic without worrying
about the final device implementation.

The advanced user interface to the Quartus II software lets you
work with multiple files at the same time, editing multiple design
files to transfer information between them, while simultaneously compiling
or simulating another project. You can view an entire hierarchy of
design files and move smoothly from one hierarchical level to another.
As you open a design file, the Quartus II software automatically starts
the appropriate design editor.

The Quartus II Compiler lies at the heart of the system, providing
powerful design processing that you can customize to achieve the best
possible silicon implementation of your project. Automatic error location
and extensive documentation on error and warning messages make design
modifications as simple as possible. At every step in the design process,
the Quartus II software makes it easy for you to focus on your design—not
on how to use the software.

The superb integration of the Quartus II software improves your
efficiency and productivity, putting you in control of your logic
design environment.

The Quartus II software provides NativeLink integration with major
design tools to provide seamless transfer of information between the
Quartus II software and other EDA tools. This NativeLink integration
allows the Quartus II software to easily identify the source of errors
in the EDA tool's source files, enabling you to correct them quickly.
In addition, the Quartus II software allows you to run many EDA tools
automatically from within the Quartus II software, further enhancing
its integration into your design flow.